The MMM RIPA at Castel Brunico, one of the Messner Mountain Museums by Reinhold Messner, focuses on mountain peoples from Asia, Africa, South America and Europe.
Hill tribes in the MMM Ripa, arts in the Municipal Museum, a tour across the history in the Archaeological Museum Mansio Sebatum or a discovery tour in the South Tyrolean Folklore Museum in Teodone - culture in Brunico and surroundings is multi-faceted.
The trees and bushes turn golden, the mature grapes are harvested, the highest peaks are already snow-covered - a scene that takes place under a deep blue sky. Autumn in South Tyrol in all its glory!
Today we are on the move in a town that, beside its beauty and versatility, has plenty of treasures to offer. We visited one of the oldest food shops, discovered a soldiers’ cemetery only a five-minutes’ walk from the Messner Mountain Museum Ripa, and were able to glimpse into the holy costume stock of a delightful theatre.
Brunico Castle lies on the top of the hill that dominates Brunico, the city on the Rienza river. In the middle of the 13th century , the bishop of Bressanone, Bruno von Kirchberg, commissioned the building of the castle in order to protect his lands in the Val Pusteria, laying the foundations for the town of Brunico.
The interiors of the castle host numerous emblems of the bishops who lived here: Albert von Enna (1323-1326), Ulrich Putsch (1427-1437), Andreas of Austria (1591-1600) or the bishops of Spaur and Welsperg. All of them contributed to the building of the castle, either by extending or restoring it. Unfortunately, many of the frescos in the rooms and halls of the castle are poorly preserved.
In July 2011 the fifth Messner Mountain Museum was opened at Brunico Castle: MMM Ripa. Its interactive collection mainly focuses on the everyday culture of mountain people like Sherpas, Indios, Tibetans, Mongols and Hunzas.
